Summit Explores Status of Health in NJ’s Communities and Homes

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WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — The Healthy Communities and Homes Summit featured a panel discussion on advancing policy change with policy experts and elected officials. Pictured from left to right: Rose Farias, director of urban policy, NJ Senate Majority Office; the Honorable Albert B. Kelly, mayor of the City of Bridgeton; Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ; Maria Maio-Messano, director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development NJ Field Office, and the Honorable Frank Pallano, U.S. Representative for the 6th Congressional District.

The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network) hosted its first Healthy Communities and Homes Summit this week to explore the status of health in New Jersey’s communities and homes. The summit focused on issues impacting the area’s health including air quality, lead poisoning, food access, health services, and neighborhood and housing revitalization.

“The recent dialogue around childhood lead poisoning revealed a much bigger problem facing our communities,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer. “Bringing together all the stakeholders working to improve various public health issues allows us to reach more people and make a greater impact. Building a thriving, healthy New Jersey depends on partnerships that can pull resources together.”

Recognizing the significance of cross agency collaboration, the Network invited nonprofit developers, service providers, elected officials, advocates, and medical professionals to participate in the event. Discussions throughout the day centered on policy challenges and potential solutions.

“Lead poisoning is just a symptom of crumbling, neglected communities that desperately need more attention,” said Joseph Della Fave, executive director of Ironbound Community Corporation and member of the Network’s Board of Directors. “There’s an excessive amount of contaminants and pollution in communities of low-income, disenfranchised, people of color communities such as Newark. Ironbound Community Corporation is mobilizing residents to improve environmental conditions and control the future of our neighborhood”

The Honorable Albert B. Kelly is mayor of the City of Bridgeton and chief executive officer of Gateway Community Partnership in Cumberland County. Mayor Kelly and a group of high school students are engaged in a pilot project funded by New Jersey Health Initiatives that educates and enrolled members of the community in a summer feeding program.

“Summer is often referred to as the hungriest time of the year so while most students receive meals during the school year, this is a food program that fills that gap,” said Mayor Kelly. “The City of Bridgeton might be impoverished financially but because of the youth leading this program, we have the richest town in New Jersey.”

Featured speakers at the Healthy Communities and Homes Summit included Lucy Vandenberg, senior program officer for the Fund for New Jersey; Maria Maio-Messano, director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development NJ Field Office; the Honorable Frank Pallone, U.S. Representative of the 6th Congressional District; the Honorable Albert B. Kelly, mayor of the City of Bridgeton; Rose Farias, director of urban policy for the NJ Senate Majority Office; Bob Atkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of New Jersey Health Initiatives; and Mandu Sen is a senior planner at Regional Plan Association. The Healthy Communities and Homes Summit was held at the Trenton War Memorial.

“The stakeholders in the room are dealing with communities that have been neglected and financially challenged,” said Congressman Pallone. “Through collaboration, stakeholders can have better access to resources that could vastly improve the quality of life in these places. Healthy communities are informed communities and we have a better shot at educating when working together.”

For more information on the Healthy Communities and Homes Summit, visit
www.hcdnnj.org/healthycommunitieshomessummit.

About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is the statewide association of more than 250 community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of affordable homes, economic opportunities, and strong communities. For more information on the Network, visit www.hcdnnj.org.

For more information: Nina Arce
(609) 393-3752 x1200
Website: hcdnnj.org
Twitter site: twitter.com/hcdnnj
Facebook site: facebook.com/hcdnnj

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